Page 32 of Stolen By The Beast
Keep it cool, Juniper. Don’t act desperate. Give it time.
I could coach myself as much as I wanted, but my heart was doing its best to ignore me.
“Are you hurt?” Karvik brushed my cheek with a single long claw.
I fought the fresh surge of tears that burned the back of my eyes. Blinking rapidly, I muttered, “I’m just tired.”
Karvik leaned toward me, touching his claw to my heart. “Are you hurting inside?”
How dare he cut off our kiss and abandon me without a backward glance, only to return as the sensitive monster I was in lov—likewith?
The dam holding back my emotions broke, and I began to sob anew. Curling myself into a ball on the ground, I let my tangled blonde hair hide my face.
Karvik said nothing, only scooped me into his arms and began to walk.
Burying my face into his silky black fur, I cried harder. He smelled of smoke and pine, of wind and fresh rain, of danger and comfort.
For a moment, I was squished in Karvik’s arms as he bent, ducking beneath thick overhead branches. Wiping at the tears blurring my vision, I tried to make out where he was taking me.
“While you slept, I built a makeshift shelter. Tomorrow I will begin to build a stronger dwelling… a small cabin. I believe that is what humans call them?”
I nodded, trying to take joy in him building a house for me. It didn’t mean he would love me, but maybe he could grow to like me.
Would that be enough for me?
“Thank you,” I whispered, my fingers brushing his fur-covered chest.
Karvik’s chest rattled in an almost cat-like purr. “Hunting went well. I caught a large buck. You will eat well tonight, and for many days to come.”
My stomach rumbled in appreciation. “I didn’t realize how hungry I am.” I forced a smile.
“Can you eat it raw?”
“Um…no.”
“Then you must cook it. I’ll get it ready then for you, and you can show me what must be done.”
Don’t cry, Juniper. Don’t cry.
He was helping me. My heart was chalking it up to a sign Karvik was growing fond of me.
Needing space, I reluctantly pushed off his lap and settled on the floor beside him. Karvik gave another rattle, but this one didn’t sound happy. However, he made no move to stop me.
Swiping the last of the tears from my cheeks, I took in the small lean-to style shelter he’d built. The entire structure had been made of a single type of tree, but it was one I didn’t recognize.
Following my gaze, Karvik answered my unspoken question. “I made it from Juniper trees.”
“Oh,” I commented, unsure of what to say.
“Since you took the name of the tree, I assume they must be your favorite.” Glancing at him, I was surprised to see him duck his head. “I thought it would please you.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell him that human parents named their children at birth, so I’d had no say in my name.
While I didn’t know if I’d had a favorite tree in the past, I certainly had one now. And it wasn’t because I shared a name with it, but because Karvik had thought of me when he saw them.
Heck, who needed roses when your neighborhood creature could bring you trees?
“I like it very much.” Patting his arm, I offered him a genuine smile.
